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Hello. Should I take I-10 or I-40 when driving from Sacramento to Miami? I'll be traveling in mid-December. Two considerations are paramount: (1) safety and (2) weather.
I would prefer to take the highway that is safer. Is, for instance, I-40 safer than I-10 because it doesn't run as close to the border? I am a big guy and everything, but I've never felt fully safe on long road trips, particularly where, as here, I'll be driving alone at night.
Also, I don't want to get caught in any snowstorms like I did when I came across I-80. Both routes seem like they are sufficiently far south that I shouldn't have to worry about that. Yet I-40 gives me a little pause because it goes through northern Arizona and New Mexico.
Hello. Should I take I-10 or I-40 when driving from Sacramento to Miami? I'll be traveling in mid-December. Two considerations are paramount: (1) safety and (2) weather.
I would prefer to take the highway that is safer. Is, for instance, I-40 safer than I-10 because it doesn't run as close to the border? I am a big guy and everything, but I've never felt fully safe on long road trips, particularly where, as here, I'll be driving alone at night.
Also, I don't want to get caught in any snowstorms like I did when I came across I-80. Both routes seem like they are sufficiently far south that I shouldn't have to worry about that. Yet I-40 gives me a little pause because it goes through northern Arizona and New Mexico.
Any other relevant considerations?
Thanks!
Take I-10 .... you could very well get caught in snow on I-40. I'd come down the coast of Cali and pick up I-10. Avoid the mountains in the central part of the U.S. You could get some snow in no. New Mexico. No matter which route you choose, join AAA if you haven't already.
No. Get south as soon as you can: I-5 to I-10 to I-75 etc.
From Sac though.... I might head over the hill into NV and Vegas
then Kingman and down to I-10 at Phoenix. Stop and see a show.
Is this for safety (i.e., not driving through the mountains in the winter)? I read in another thread that I-70 doesn't have a lot of services. I'll big in a 12-foot Penske, which is about as gas-guzzling as it gets.
Also, is I-10 safe? I read that there is a lot of crime along the border?
Finally, are there any hotels or travel centers along I-10? It would be nice to stop at a hotel once or twice or, if not, at least go to a travel center and take a shower.
You could hit snow or ice anywhere along I-40 depending, so go as far south as possible if you want to miss it.
Word of warning when you get to Florida, STOP at the state line for the agricultural inspection if your in ANY box type truck, including rental trucks, they will chase you down and pull you over.
I have driven both I-40 and I-10 from CA to Tennessee many times over the past 5 years.
In the Winter I take I-10. You can and likely will encounter snow on I-40, almost always in Flagstaff through Williams AZ. We also had major traffic from accidents from a snowstorm in Albuquerque NM. Sat on the freeway for 4 hours then for 2 more from semi trucks slamming into each other in the snow and ice. Glad we were behind them and not next to them. Since then, we take I-10 during the Winter.
IF it was good weather and not Winter I-40 is shorter for us by an hour or two and has lots less blowing sand.
I-10 does have cities and towns where you can get gas and stay in hotels just off the highway. Just watch the signs and do not cut it short on gas because there are places where there is nothing for miles, but that is the same as I-40.
There is more trafficking of people and crime around I-10, but just do not stop for hitchhikers or stopped cars needing help (sometimes its a scam to get you to stop and steal your car/stuff/life). And try to not stop in major cities like El Paso that are know for lots of undocumented folks / border crossers / crime.
I travel both interstates with my two kids, and I am an older female. Never felt unsafe, but I also do not take chances. Stop at well lit areas, if there is only one other car at a rest area, we do not stop, etc.
Also, is I-10 safe? I read that there is a lot of crime along the border?
Is this really a serious questions? If so, You're On An Interstate! There are thousands of other vehicles traveling along the same road with you. I-10 barely comes close to the border except for maybe that small 75 mile stretch from El Paso to the Texas 87 truck stop. Even in that stretch your still on the Interstate. You stand a greater chance of being robbed by some american meth head at a gas station than some "border crime". Of course, if you deliberately or through ignorance decide to stop overnight in a crime ridden area, well what can happen could happen could easily happen in any bad area of american. Much of the hype over border crime is more sensationalizing versus actual risk. You stand a greater chance of being a victim of crime stopping for gas in Alabama versus driving I-8 to I-10 from CA to TX.
Traveling at night everything always seems scarier especially if stopping at a rest stop with no body else there. It will be very cold at night along both routes.
Plenty of gas stations, travel centers and hotels along both routes.
I am heading east myself and for now am heading north to I40 at Las Cruces unless weather changes.
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